Vacuum evaporating apparatus.



E. NEWHALL. VACUUM EVAPORATING APPARATUS.

Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7. 1914- hvm.

EIA. NEWHALL. VACUUM EVAF ORATlNG APPARATUS.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAY 7, 191

Patented Aug. 10,191.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

LL- apparatus for use connection with evapo rating systems and I16 o'o ect thereof:

ncrease the efiiciency of such systems, para ticulariy those of the multiple effect type, the invention contemplating the provision of a relatively simple and compact combination of parts for removing air and other comparatively uncondensable gases from the steam boxes of the eiiects or evaporators with a view to relieving the main air pump of this work.

It is also desired to provide apparatus whereby flooding of the steam boxes with water as well as free passage of steam from one of said boxesto one or more of the others or to a suction device will be automatically prevented by means which shall include a construction for utilizinga portion of the heat in the water of condensation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of the above apparatus with such attachments as will cause it to continue its automatic operation without interruption; the device for removing air from the steam boxes including means for utilizin the heat still contained in the steam used or opera tion.

These objects and other advantageous ends I secure as hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying draws, in which,

igure 1 is a front elevation, to some extent diagrammatic, illustrating a multiple efiect evaporating system equipped with my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, and Figs. 3 and 4 are elevations, of which the latter is partly in section, illustrating one of the features or the invention.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the above drawings 1, 2, and 3 represent the efiect-s of a multiple efiect evaporating system, the casing of the first efiect being connected to deliver steam or water vapor to the steam-box i of the efiect 2 through a pipe 5, and the casing of this latter efiect being connected through a a delivered to casir of th 1.1. t eih'ec' at li t .i an pipe said casing is e i partly concentrated liquor to the casing 2 through a valved pipe l i. Similarly, the casing of the last efiect 3 is connected to receive, through a valved pipe 15, liquor from the casing of the last previous efi'ect and is provided with an outlet pipe it for the completely concentrated liquor.

The steam boxes 8, 4, and 7, of the three eiiects all have their top portions connected to an air ejection pipe 17 whose outlet end is connected to an air educting device 18 consisting of an ejector supplied with steam from a pipe 19. Said ejector discharges into a heater 20 having an inlet 21 and an outlet 22 which may be connected respectively to a source of liquor to be concentrated and to the casing of the first efiect 1, in order that the temperature of the liquor may be raised as high as possible before delivery to said efi'ect.

Each of the efi'ects has its steam box downwardly extended as indicated at 23 to provide a collecting box for condensed Water and these two boxes of the efi'ects l and 2 are connected through a valved pipe 24 while the boxes 2 and 3 are connected through avalved pipe 25. The water box of the last efiect 3 is connected through a valved pipe 26 to a pump 27, although, as shown in Fig. 3, it may, under certain conditions, be connected to the suction chamber of the main air pump 12, or as shown in F 4, to the discharge is 28 or a barometric or other similar con enser 29.

Each of the" water boxes of the several effects is entered by a pipe 30 at some point above its bottom at which it is desired that I the water level shall normally stand, and

connected to 33. Moreover, the highest portion of the dome of each steam tra is connected through a pipe 34 with its dlscharge pipe 32.

With this arrangement of parts the operation of the main air pump 12 creates arelatively high vacuum in the casing of the last the heat of the steam used for this purpose as well as that of the steam and air removed from the effects being utilized in the heater 20 for any purpose, such as raising the-temperature of the liquor to be concentrated. This removal of the air from the steam box removes a material portion of the load from the air pump 12, making possible the attainment of a higher vacuum than could ordinarily be secured and, consequently, increasing the efliciency of the system as a whole. This is due to the fact that the pump 12 which is customarily connected to the pipe 17 is not required to remove the air from the several steam boxes, in addition to pro- 1 ducing a vacuum and condensing the steam.

If the valves 33 in the water pipes 24., 25, and 26 are at all times fully open, I have found that there will be such a complete re-' moval of the water as will permit blowing through and consequent waste of the steam. On the other hand if these valves are throttled there will be flooding of the water boxes, part of the time at least, so that constant regulation is necessary. With the apparatus shown and described above, I throttle or partly close the valves 33, thus maintaining a body of water in each of the water boxes 23 whose level is determined by the point of entrance of the pipes 30. If, atany time, the water should rise above this level, it would at once be removed by the automatic action of the steam trap 31 connected tosaid box, and be delivered thereby through the pipe 32. into that portion of the water pipe on the suction side of the valve 33 having free communication with the water box of thenext efiect.

Obviously-the vacuum in the pipe 32 is higher than that in the trap attached there to, so that any air which might accumulate in the dome or top of said trap would be a once removed through the pipe 34.

By providing a more or less extended surface of water in the water box attached to or forming part of each steam box, I permit of the liberation therein of a certain amount,

of the heat carried by said water, and at the same time the trap associated with box sult in a decided increase in the efiici'ency of the apparatus as a whole, for not only is the air, etc., removed from the several steam boxes in such a manner as to permit of the maintenance of higher vacuums in the system than could otherwise be obtained, but the blowing through of steam from one 'steam box to that of another efiect or from the last steam box to the suction device, is efiectually prevented. At the same time the condensed Water is caused to give up more of its heat than has ordinarily been obtainable, while flooding of any of the steam boxes is also effectually prevented.

I claim:

1. The combination with a multiple effect system of a condensation pipe connecting the several efl'ects; suction producing means; a pipe connecting said means-with the steam box of the last efi'ect;a valve in each of said pipes; and steam t'rap's respectively connected toeach efiect and to the condensation pipe leading therefrom on the suction side of the valve therein. 1 v

2. The combination in a multiple efiect system of api'pe for carrying of! the condensed water from one of the effects; a valve in said pipe; with a steam trap connected to the steam box of said, effect and discharging into the pipe on the suction side of valve. I

3. The combination of an evaporator hays ing a steam box; a pipe connected to a suction device for removing condensed water from said steam box; a valve in-said pipe; 9.

steam trap; a pipe connecting said trap with the steam box; and a discharge pipe connecting the steam trap 'with the condensed water pipe on the suction side of the valve therein.

.4. The combination of an evaporator having a steam box; a pipe connected to a suction device or removing condensed water from said, steam box; a valve in said pipe;

a-isteam trap; a pipeconnecting said trap with the steam box; a discharge pipe connecting the steam trap with the condensed water pipe on the suction side of the valve therein; with a pipe connected to the discharge pipe of the steam trap for removing the air from said trap.

\5 The combination of an evaporator having e steam box; e pipe connected; to e snetion device for removing condensed water from saici steam box; e valve in seidl pipe; e steam trap; e pipe connecting safl trap won the steam box; a discharge pipe connecting the steam trap with the condensed water pipe on the suction side of the valve therein; with means for removing the air from seici trap.

system of condensation Water pipes eonn'eeeing the steam boxes; suction gneens connected to remove the condensed weeer from the steam box of the last efieet; wolves in said 6. The combination in a multiple efiect e on EZRA A. NE w n.

Witnesses:

Wmnmn E. BRADLEY, WM. A. BARR. 

